The stock image industry is filled to the brim with all kinds of images that cater to a global market. The intent is to cover the customers’ image needs. A lot of these are for straightforward images such as product shots but there is also a huge market for images that present an abstract concept, such as a visual representation of the concept of ‘business’ or ‘health’. Oftentimes, these kinds of shots are harder to capture since you are trying to transform an idea into something more concrete, which is the image. The following are three popular abstract concepts with helpful tips on how you can create stock photos that represent them:

1. Love – put your own spin to cliché images that show the concept of love such as people hugging or kissing, red paper hearts, heart balloons, chocolate hearts and the like. Although your image may be perfectly exposed and composed, it could get buried under the thousands of similar images from other good photographers. Instead of a young couple kissing, why not make it an old couple instead. Instead of composing some chocolate hearts on a white background, why not have someone about to eat the chocolate heart instead. By going a step further, you are separating yourself from the pack. Keep in mind that the concept of ‘love’ has many levels, such as ‘familial love’ and ‘romantic love’. Try to compose shots which portray various kinds of love.Examples of images that convey ‘love’ are a father holding his baby, a child and her pet, and a mother hugging her elderly parent.

2. Health and Fitness – nowadays, people of all ages are very health conscious and there are millions of products and services that offer the concept of a healthy lifestyle. The concept of good health is dear to our hearts and images that convey this are widely popular. When creating a shot, first imagine what you would consider as promoting health and fitness. Common topics would be diet and exercise so the next step is to use a subject or shoot a scene that shows this. People jogging, vitamin pills, gym equipment, and healthy looking people exercising are some examples. Again, the trick is to avoid shots similar to what others are offering. Play with your camera angle, the framing, the depth of field, etc. to further push your concept.

3. Work/Business – the most common stock images that show the concept of business are people in business attire, briefcases, office desks and handshakes. There is nothing wrong with having a good quality stock image that shows any of these examples but you must remember that the competition has similar images of their own. To add your own creative touch, why not make use of workers that are less noticed and who normally do not wear business suits to work such as fishermen or construction workers.

Whatever concept you are trying to present, always keep in mind that these are for stock and as such, need to have commercial and resale value. Customers should be able to use them to promote their own products and services. Also the idea should be immediately clear to the customers and not make them wonder what is the message you are trying to get across.

Are you at a loss for a subject to shoot? Why not pick some very common subject matter and see if you can present it in interesting ways? Challenge yourself with little exercises in composition, lighting, and creativity. What better way to do this than to start by photographing common vegetables and fruits. They make such great potential subjects because they come in so many varieties, from long purple eggplants to broccoli sprouts that look like miniature trees; from small bright berries to giant watermelons. They are also very accessible. You can get them in the market, if you don’t already have them in your refrigerator. Among other things, you can mash, slice, dice, puree, cook, chop, carve, squeeze, or shred them.

Fruits and vegetables are usually full of fascinating textures, shapes and colors. By using strategic composition and lighting, you can show them off successfully.

Close up or macro shots, for instance, will direct the viewer’s eyes to the intricate details. These details may not be obvious or even interesting if seen at a regular distance. But by showing how the fruit or vegetable looks like up close, then the viewer gets to notice and appreciate what he or she would normally miss. The skins or surfaces are usually textured and peeling or slicing them off will show further details and textures.

These objects also make fantastic still life subjects. You might have noticed a lot of still life compositions of fruits and vegetables in other art forms, especially in painting and drawing. They allow the artist to practice capturing how they catch the light, how their varied shapes and forms flow in the frame, and how their colors complement each other. Aside from all these, they are universally recognizable. There is no need to explain what they are, so the artist is free to simply depict the beauty of their existence.

Fruits and vegetables can be photographed in the studio or indoors where lighting conditions are controlled and where they have been rinsed to remove specks of dirt. But shooting them outdoors, still clinging to the stem or root and a part of nature, is another effective way of portraying them. Taking advantage of it being in its natural habitat and soaking up the sunlight can make for some wonderful shots.

There are many ways to use lighting to show off the best features of fruits and vegetables. Window light is a great light source especially for still life shots since indirect sunlight, plus sidelighting, can introduce mood and drama. Intense light might make fine details disappear but can also make strong patterns more prominent. Backlighting can turn them into silhouettes or can illuminate them better especially if they are transparent or not very opaque.

In the world of stock photography, it is ideal for buyers to have access to commercial images that represent their need, whether that is an image of a bicycle or one that represents a concept. As stock photographers we would find it easy to take photos of actual objects because they are visible, tangible and therefore we can take an actual image of them. Yet how about abstract ideas and concepts that we know exist but not in the physical sense? To portray them in an image would take skill and preparation because your image needs to send a message across to the viewer. In aprevious article we wrote about three abstract concepts and how they can be manifested in a photograph. Let us look at more abstract ideas and find out how they can visually appear as well as the cliche shots to stay away from.

1. Joy/happiness – an effective exercise is to visualize the concept. What images enter your head when you think of the word ‘happiness’? People smiling, laughing and celebrating are common visuals. Try to think further to imagine what they are celebrating or smiling about. You can have a photo of a person smiling, which would be fine but generic, and you can also have a person smiling while looking at a child playing. The second image includes the reason for her expression and gives you even more concepts that you can include in your keywords such as 'child' and 'play'.

2. Peace/serenity – sometimes an image does not have to show an actual scene or subject to convey a certain concept or emotion. Abstract images can be very effective to represent abstract ideas. When we think of peacefulness, a calm sea or landscape might come to mind. But an image that shows only shapes and colors such as shades of blue can evoke a strong sense of tranquility in us. These abstract photos would be ideal for PC wall papers, magazine background design for text boxes and even actual prints for display.

3. Wealth – money is the first thing we picture out when we think of wealth. Images that show coins and bills are a dime a dozen in the stockpile. For your image to have a edge over the millions of other photos that also show money, your composition must be more unique and should send a message across to the viewer. For example, you can have a straightforward shot of a pile of bills. You can also be more creative and have a hand sticking out from the pile of bills as if someone is drowning in money. You can also have a shot of a dollar bill with one end burning up in flames. For more impact, make that a hundred dollar bill if you can spare it. To play it safe you can add flames to the bill in Photoshop or other similar photo editing program.

Whatever stock image you plan to shoot, make sure it sends a strong message of the abstract concept, that it has your creative touch and that it displays great composition and proper lighting.

Jewelry is a subject often used in commercial photography. They are often seen in print ads, e-commerce shops and stock photos and they always appear to be all shiny and glittery. What is not commonly known is that a whole lot of effort has been placed to get those stunning shots. Jewelry is one of the most challenging objects to shoot, often being very small and made of metal or crystal, therefore having highly reflective surfaces.

If the purpose of the jewelry shots is for commercial use, then it is essential that the shots be perfect, especially in online stores where consumers buy the products based on the visual impact of the photographs, rather than that of the actual pieces. No matter how pretty or expensive the jewelry item is, if it is presented poorly in a picture, then online buyers will be turned off from purchasing the product.

When photographing jewelry, there are three main things to consider:

1.Proper lighting is crucial – it can’t be stressed enough how important the lighting setup is to getting great jewelry shots. Pieces have to be very well and evenly lit, with hardly any shadows. It can be easy to get blown up areas since gems and metals are highly reflective and bounce back the light. A light tent is a great way to diffuse the glare of the light while softening the shadows as well. Although you can buy a light tent in camera shops, you can also make one yourself with a few cheap materials.

You must also remember that each jewelry piece is different from the next and therefore, the lighting varies as well. A diamond ring is lighted differently compared to pearl earrings in order to show it off best. Surfaces may be opaque or translucent, glossy or matted, smooth or faceted, etc. Knowing how to light jewelry properly is a result of practice and experience and this brings me to the next point:

2.Experience is the best teacher – it takes lots of practice to achieve good and consistent results when shooting jewelry. There are so many things to consider, from the cut of the gem to its size, kind, brilliance, opacity, color, and so on and so forth. Jewelry items are all shaped differently as well, and one must know how to present each piece in the best way possible. Although you can use guides and tips from photo books, other people or the internet, there’s a whole lot more to learn from constant practice, from trial and error, and from experimenting to find out the ways that lighting and set up can wholly capture the beauty of the jewelry piece.

3.Use a capable camera and lens – a camera with a good macro lens or a macro mode would be satisfactory although ideally a high quality macro lens can best do the job. Since the camera must not get too close to the jewelry because of the possibility of reflection, a good macro lens can capture pin sharp details and high magnification even from two feet away. A great macro lens may cost a lot but it can truly deliver and if you constantly take jewelry shots for commercial photography, investing in this lens might be a good idea.

4. Use a model – you can shoot jewelry by themselves on a platform or in their case but you can also make use of a model to give customers an idea how the jewelry would look on the body. For instance, you can have a close up shot of an earring dangling from an earlobe or a watch around a wrist.

Additional tips when shooting jewelry:

• Use wax to make the jewelry stand. If you want a pendant or a charm to be propped up while you are shooting it, place a tiny ball of wax at the bottom of the jewelry to keep it upright.

•Add sparkle or brilliance by training light directly on the faceted gem. Move this light around until the gem starts to shine in certain areas without causing severe blown out highlights. There should also be a light on each side of the jewelry, separated by the light tent.

•Create reflection for added visual interest. A black reflection, for example, can be achieved using a high gloss black acrylic platform.

• Use one light source to make pearls more round. Two or more could make the pearls appear flat. Position the light source above the pearls and you can use a clear/white high gloss acrylic platform as its base to get a soft reflection.

Weigh your options in the business of photography and try to decide if stock photography is one of them. Here are some questions to ask yourself to help reach a decision:

•Do my images have good composition? Are they nicely lit and free from visual clutter?

Whether you are a seasoned or an amateur photographer, a blurry image is still a blurry image. Getting your images in any microstock site does not require you to be a professional. All you need are good images. Stock sites have reviewers who peruse each and every uploaded shot before they are accepted in the system. If you plan to have each of your photos pass this rigorous test, learn to do quality checks yourself and be objective when analyzing your images.

•Is photography fun for me?

Photography is not all about money. If you are doing it for the money, then you are in for disappointment. It takes hours of patience and hard work to get the perfect images that would sell, not to mention post processing and getting them approved for uploading in stock sites. If this does not appeal to you, then it will definitely show in your work.

•Do I have adequate photography equipment?

The most important thing to have is a digital camera. For stock sites, your camera should be capable of at least taking 4megapixels. Having a digital camera is a great way for you to practice and develop your skills without having to worry about cost of film, developing negatives, and the like. Just remember not to be too trigger happy and always spare the time to go through your images and find out the areas for improvement. You will also have to learn how to use photo editing software since this will greatly aid you in the post processing stage so you can correct all the minor errors appearing in your photographs.

•Can I spare some time to focus on creating stock images?

Whether you decide to upload in microstock or macrostock sites, make sure you upload only the best images you have. Check on the current trends, what are the images that sell the most, and always upload fresh images so that the clients always have new options. All these require effort and a certain amount of time devoted to building your stock portfolio, especially in the beginning when you are still making a name for yourself.

•Do I want to earn from my photos?

Many good photographers take pictures because they love it and do not really think of the monetary aspect of it. If you are doing stock photography as a hobby and not as a main source of income, you might be satisfied with earning a few dollars now and then from your images. If you want to earn more than what would amount to spare change, you will have to be more serious as well and try to learn the tricks of the trade to get the most out of it.

•Am I willing to accept image payment of only a few cents each shot?

For some people, there is still that mindset that a photograph is certainly worth more than a few cents and microstock sites are harming the value of a high quality image. For others, the low rates being offered in microstock sites is not considered an issue since there are thousands of potential buyers who can acquire the same image and these few cents will accumulate into hundreds of dollars over time. Your personal perception of how the stock system works will affect your decision whether or not to join stock sites.

•Am I known professionally in the photography world?

Once you have already gotten the hang of the skills and expertise of being a good photographer and are earning a living out of it or are well-known in the craft, you might prefer having your images sold at macrostock sites rather than microstock. Macrostock sites are much stricter with image quality and not just anybody can become a member. However, once you are in, you can sell your images at a much higher rate. Some people even choose to use the services of both microstock and macrostock sites. Just be wary about the sites that you decide to join because some have exclusivity quotes so read the terms and conditions carefully.

Just about anybody with a sharp eye for unique images, the right equipment and film and outstanding technical skills can create great photos. Making photography your main source of livelihood will take more than just knowing certain techniques and skills, you must have the proper mindset to make any business to work. For your business to be profitable and lucrative, it is also helpful to familiarize yourself with the legal, financial, administrative and marketing aspects of venturing into putting up your own photography business.

Photography is a broad and extensive professional field that can, more often than not, be very competitive. The competition spans from part-timers that freelance for the daily local newspaper to big wig photographers that command astronomical fees. One way to stand out in the crowd is to find your niche and be good at it. For example, by specializing in pet portraiture or wedding photography, there is a bigger chance potential clients will contact you since they know you are good in that particular area.

Working at home has its advantages. This enables you to work on a wider spectrum of subject matter such as fashion, portraiture, underwater, product and event photography. You can also do freelance work as a photo journalist for local or national or internationally syndicated newspapers and magazines. Working in a studio also has its perks. Your equipment will not take up your home space, customers can visit your studio and you can maintain your privacy, and there is a clear delineation between life at work and life at home.

Professional photography can be generally divided into two types: assignment photography and stock photography. Assignment photography can be any form or genre of photography whether it be portrait, product, food, advertising or event photography as long as it is a project given by the client. Most of the professional photographers work on assignment because it ensures that you will get paid either before or after the shoot. This, in a way, offers more financial security.

Alternatively, stock photography is taking photographs on the chance the image may be sold in the future. Usually when taking the perfect picture, you take several, if not dozens, of shots of any subject. These are called surplus photos, and they can be used in a number of other things, such as for newspapers, brochures, posters, calendars, web sites and many more. To save on expenses, a lot of clients opt to use stock photos instead of hiring a photographer for just this purpose. Since stock photos are often taken in a studio, you will be working in a controlled environment compared to assignment photography and there is more time for you to get your shots just right.

Whatever type of professional photography you plan on doing, just remember that the business aspect can be consuming and hectic, and you will have to work hard at it, as much as you have been doing in trying to capture those perfect shots.

There are 3 basic questions you have to ask yourself when judging your own work:

Is my image technically sound?

As a photographer, it can be easy to feel subjective towards your images since you know how much effort it took you to get the shot. However, if you are into the stock photography business and will be using these images for stock, you will have to look at your creations with an honest and critical eye. These images will not just be for your viewing pleasure but will be used as a product that can garner cash. Buyers will be going over your images with the intent of buying rights to use them for whatever they need. They want it to be technically perfect, from the lighting to the composition. Images with obvious scratches or dust, over or underexposed areas, poor cropping or oversharpening, can quickly be passed on as buyers look for better quality images. In fact, most stock photo agencies have quality requirements that need to be passed for an image to be approved and uploaded in their site. These in-house reviewers will be quick to notice photographic weaknesses and can immediately reject your image before the buyer even has the chance to look at it. Be your own worst critic and upload only your best images. You might have some that can be redeemed with minor post processing, which is perfectly fine as long as the editing is flawless.

Does my photograph help promote or sell a product, concept or idea?

Aside from technical expertise, you must also show artistic expression. An image of a briefcase can be the most boring object but it can also be very appealing when creatively composed. Images that have substance, those that convey a strong message or idea, will have great chances of being used. Abstract ideas such as love, fun or stress can be presented visually in a photograph through the use of symbolism or perhaps by how the subject is composed. For instance, two people hugging can convey the emotion of love or intimacy (don’t forget to include keywords!). Backgrounds, props and secondary subjects can provide context and subtext which you can use to their full advantage.

Are there a lot or only a few images available in the stock photography site?

The market of stock photography is often oversaturated with certain themes. For example, there are millions of images of flowers and pets, to the point that some stock photo agencies hint that members should refrain from uploading them. Check out the most popular photos in the stock site and find out what makes them so special. Is it spectacular lighting or composition or an old cliché concept that has been made fresh? Stock sites usually have forums where they sometimes update members on what images buyers are currently searching for. Also, do some keyword searching and see if they pull up a lot or only a handful of relevant images. Another thing to consider is to have a specialty, a theme or technique that you can excel in so you can make a name for yourself in that particular niche. Even if there are hundreds or thousands of images with the same theme as yours, if you have a good reputation of providing excellent images, you will be one of the first that buyers will go and maybe even patronize in the future.

A lot of times many stock photographers have to think of ideas that would make a great shot. It’s not a secret that almost all aspiring and well seasoned photographers have a whole folder of landscape or nature images hoping to find some use for them later on. With stock sites being swamped with landscape images, you might assume it is difficult to gain a foothold in this genre. In fact, there is always a need for beautiful sunsets, mountains, woods and beach settings. With a few helpful tips, you can turn your landscape shots into money makers:

See through a buyer’s eyes – catching the buyer’s attention should be of utmost importance to the stock photo seller. Look at your landscape photos with objectivity and see how they would appear if you were the buyer. Are they useful as a background image for a magazine or as a photo example for a brochure? Can you imagine seeing them in print advertisements or as desktop wallpapers? Buyers have various reasons for acquiring an image and yours should have some selling value that hooks the clients’ interest.

Use your landscape as the background – landscape images often become cliché and generic since most sunset and mountain images look alike. One effective way to make a landscape shot more unique is the addition of a foreground subject. Instead of just a plain beach in sunset scene, why not include a person or an object in the foreground. This gives the viewers something to focus on while also appreciating the beautiful landscape background.

Always tag your images – the chances of your photograph being viewed by the public are greater if you tag your images appropriately. For example, a sunset doesn’t always have to be just a ‘sunset’. You can also tag it under ‘sun’, ‘dusk’, ‘twilight’, plus additional tags for elements that can be found in the image such as secondary subjects or the location of the scene. The more tags to describe your images, the more views you can have. Most buyers are usually very specific when searching for an image, and they may have the tendency to only use one word to search for a specific image. If you don’t use that word, you lose your chance of selling that image.

Show people in your landscape shots – people images sell like hotcakes in stock sites. By including people in your scene, you immediately increase the chances of getting a sale. Your landscape may be stunning with perfect composition and lighting, but it can garner more interest with the addition of a person, even if it is just a small silhouette. If you want to play it safe, have a shot that is just purely landscape and another that has a person or some people in it.

Landscape photography can be one of the most competitive niches to penetrate and be known for, but the demand for it is always high. There is never a lack for the need for landscape images. Just always make sure that in a market saturated by the same type of scenes, your images have better quality, your composition is immaculate and that the image has depth. These are what will make your work stand out, these are what will always sell.

Stock photography can be a lucrative business, and it is always an unexpected and a pleasant surprise whenever you make a sale. Every image you take is unique and may at the same time have its good points and flaws. To generate a greater demand for your stock photos, here are a few general tips to get you started:

Edit your submissions – don’t just upload everything you’ve taken pictures of in a whole shoot. Edit and choose the best shots and upload only the ones you think are good enough to use. However, do not overdo it with the post processing since there might be the tendency that it looks unreal or too edited. Do not oversharpen your images and upload the highest resolution your camera can handle. Go over every pixel of your image since stock agency reviewers will certainly be doing that and the slightest appearance of pixelation or sensor dust can be a reason for rejection of your shot.

Communicate – don’t be afraid to get feedback from the many people who see your work.Most of the time, you will get valuable input that you can use in your next photo shoot. Remember that any comment is not personal so use other people’s opinions to your advantage.

Observe – learn from other stock photography sites and other photographers on what images attract buyers the most. Notice the foreground and background of print advertisements and consider the material used. A lot of times print media uses stock images for their ads. Knowing what stock photography clients are looking for in quality stock imagery is an advantage. More importantly, always learn to think like a client and know what images are in demand to best cater to the market.

Be inspired – look for inspiration in your work. Study what other material is available so you can familiarize yourself. Notice what a certain image looks like and re-tell the story using your own version or interpretation. Use this to draw inspiration from and start from there. There are thousands of images of paperclips but if you can give it your own creative touch, this can be the extra factor that can set it apart from the rest.

Direct less – when working with models, it’s best to keep them relaxed. You capture the true essence of a person or image when they are at ease and not overly conscious of how they are posing. Explain what you want and need from them and let the story unfold by itself.

Read design and photography magazines – use what you see in these magazines as inspiration rather than mimicking styles or other photographers’ work. Learn to develop new styles and techniques that you can use for your own images. This is the best way to learn what other photographers are doing to create business concepts that you can use to your advantage.

Use keywording – choose the correct keywords when labeling your work. Accuracy is an important factor as well as matching as many of the correct keywords to fit your image to get the largest possible audience. Avoid using keywords that have no relevance to your image even if these are the most often used, with the thought of adding traffic to your portfolio. It will only irk prospective buyers and will do nothing good for your chances of getting your images sold.

Christmastime is just around the corner and it is the most expensive time of the year when you have to drain your pockets to get all those Christmas presents for family and friends. With your digital camera on hand, why not put it to good use by earning some extra money to help fill those pockets. With just keen observation, a little foresight and some careful planning, you may just have the best Christmas ever.

You always take photographs on every occasion, including Christmas, so why not consider making a profit from all those holiday images. Here are some ideas how to earn:

Know what Christmas images sell in most of the stock photography sites.

Almost anyone who owns a digital camera would like to share their images with the world and is probably already a member of at least one stock photography site. If you haven’t joined yet, it’s about time you did. You might not even think of making money when you share your photos online, and you might not yet be aware that selling your images as stock photos can be really lucrative and can make you earn some extra money without any trouble at all.

Remember though, that not all Christmas stock photos sell. Even frequent buyers who look for images in stock sites have already chosen their favorite photographer from the many people who upload. Make sure that you upload quality images. It’s not the quantity of images that you have in a site but rather the quality of images. By choosing the great shots that you’ve taken and uploading these, you’re sure to have a steady stream of clients that will recognize your work and would periodically check on your images each time they need one.

It’s good to know right from the very start what type of images are popular. The kinds of holiday images that particularly sell are the traditional people photos. People enjoying the spirit of the season. These are typically a family seated enjoying a holiday meal, the gift giving scene, children opening their presents, a fire place with Santa’s cookies laid out, people walking on a snowy street lit with Christmas lights, etc. All these images bring about the festive holiday season and are always a sure fire seller.

Portray the theme of Christmas in different ways.

Try experimenting with composition and lighting. Use various angles to capture your subjects. Get close to them, notice the details of the Christmas ornaments, and if your street is decorated with Christmas lighting use the panoramic feature to capture the whole scene. Take a few candlelight images, get some shots of the festive mood such as people shopping in malls, carolers singing, etc. Try to tell a story or make use of techniques such as silhouette or motion blur to spice up your shots. It’s always easy to spot a great scene this time of the year so be prepared and don’t let it pass you by.

Use your Christmas photos as part of merchandise.

Aside from uploading your images in stock photography sites, you can always use your images for Christmas postcards, greeting cards, t-shirts, coffee mugs and so much more. You can sell these to your family and friends or aim bigger and sell them in local fairs or even online. All it takes is some initiative and great images. Everyone gets into the spirit of the holiday season and there will always be an opportunity to put those great holiday shots to good use to make you extra money all year round.